France Rejects New U.K. Proposal on Iraq

Published 7:00 pm, Wednesday, March 12, 2003

France indicated Thursday that it does not support a new British proposal setting out conditions for Iraq's disarmament, saying Baghdad must be given a realistic deadline to get rid of its weapons of mass destruction.

The British proposals "do not respond to the questions the international community is asking," Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said in a statement. "It's not about giving a few more days to Iraq before resorting to force but about resolutely advancing through peaceful disarmament."

Britain this week set out a list of conditions for Iraq's disarmament, hoping to break an impasse at the United Nations that has left Prime Minister Tony Blair vulnerable at home because of his support for the tough U.S. line. The conditions include a TV appearance by Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein renouncing weapons of mass destruction.

De Villepin said he believes weapons inspections in Iraq are "producing results" and that France supports all the countries of the Security Council that want to "give Iraq a realistic delay for reaching effective disarmament."

France said it does not support the idea of an ultimatum. It wants to "set out a framework for inspections with a work program and a precise calendar," de Villepin said.

The United States is seeking support for a resolution that contains a Monday ultimatum threatening war against Iraq. However, the White House had indicated it is considering the possibility of dropping the resolution, which faces the threat of French and Russian vetoes.

On Monday, French President President Jacques Chirac stunned Washington by announcing France was prepared to veto the U.S.-backed resolution on Iraq if necessary, joining Russia in saying it would vote against giving Saddam the Monday deadline to disarm.

Hoping to hammer out a compromise acceptable to all, Britain on Wednesday proposed a "to-do" list for Saddam Hussein: six steps to avert war _ in hopes of gaining votes for the resolution.